COUNCILLORS are meeting tonight to approve a £213million investment plan for South Gloucestershire.

New leisure facilities, primary school improvements, filling potholes and better transport will be just some of the proposals discussed at the meeting.

Building a brand new £4.5million primary school in Frampton Cotterell will be a major scheme set to be approved.

The proposal aims to bring together the separate infant and junior schools at Watermore Primary onto one site.

The school, which is based in Frampton Cotterell, currently operates on two seperate sites within a quarter of a mile from each other.

As such, it is proposed that the school will be rebuilt on the site of the junior school as part of a £4.5million scheme.  

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cllr Matthew Riddle, Conservative Leader of South Gloucestershire Council said:

“It is important that we invest our funds wisely to make the most of the opportunities available to us and to best face the tough challenges ahead.

“I am proud to be setting out a capital programme that aims to promote growth in our local economy, transform local community facilities and maintain South Gloucestershire as a great place to live and work.” 

In contrast, Cllr Pat Rooney, Labour group Leader, said that the budget report makes "stark reading".

She said: "Our Council, which is already in the midst of a £22million cuts plan, will have to use up contingencies to balance the budget next year, and then faces a £9.2million gap in 2019.

"At some point things will burst or collapse, and the government’s austerity policies are bringing that day ever closer.

"Our residents face year-on-year tax increases for steadily decreasing services.

"This budget lays bare the Conservatives’ lack of adequate funding for our local public services, so I call upon the Council’s Conservative leader to go back to his friends in government and tell them straight that we can no longer bear this level of cuts.”

Other approved funding is set to include:

  • constructing the MetroBus North Fringe to Hengrove rapid transit system
  • around £25m over 3 years to invest in further highway improvements, including resurfacing and potholes
  • setting aside up to £1.5million to deliver the long-overdue expansion of Longwell Green Leisure Centre in partnership with the Circadian Trust
  • allocating £1.6 million to help deliver more extra care and affordable housing across South Gloucestershire
  • Up to £2m to improve green spaces over 3 years
  • £3.9m over 3 years to fund disability adaptations in homes
  • £600,000 per year up to 2023/24 to invest in upgrading street lighting
  • £400,000 for installing new technology to make library facilities available from 9am to 8pm 7 days a week